Earlier today, Stefon Diggs dropped some cryptic tweets, voicing displeasure with his situation and dropping some hints along the way:
it’s time for a new beginning.
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) March 16, 2020
Nah this ain’t one of them times champ. Somethings going to happen.
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) March 16, 2020
And you know what they say: Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.
Diggs is certainly getting his wish:
Bills have acquired @stefondiggs in a trade from the Vikings. @NFLonFOX
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 17, 2020
Jay Glazer (NFL on FOX/The Athletic) tweets the Minnesota Vikings have traded Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. And the haul — as you would expect — is tremendous:
Compensation update: Bills are trading a 1st-round pick, a 5th-round pick, a 6th-round pick and a 2021 4th-round pick for Vikings WR Stefon Diggs and a 2020 7th-round pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
Buffalo gets a stud wide receiver for Josh Allen to throw deep to in the years to come.
This is the type of return I would have expected the Texans to get when they traded Deandre Hopkins to the Cardinals earlier today. Instead, it’s the Vikings getting a healthy dose of draft capital. And to get it all while clearing that contract from their books is an added bonus.
Diggs racked up back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his final two years in Minnesota. On a per-16 game average, his numbers (83 catches, 1,057 yards, 7 touchdowns) are top-of-the-line. He also caught the most important pass in franchise history. Diggs’ arrival in Buffalo brings some credibility to a passing game that had limitations when it came to Allen’s targets.
As for the Vikings side of things, the move satisfies Diggs’ desire to leave town, something he has hinted at wanting before today’s tweets. And frankly, Minnesota handled the situation so well that I’m annoyed by it. Remember how Diggs acted after the Bears busted the Vikings with a backup quarterback?
Seriously, this was a thing that happened in 2019:
The #Vikings listed WR Stefon Diggs as having missed practice today for non-injury reasons. No other explanation yet available.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 2, 2019
On #Vikings WR Stefon Diggs: His frustration with the organization has been palpable. He was not at practice yesterday for non-injury reasons. Teammates are left wondering if he wants to be there. The team is adamant he is not available for a trade, barring some massive deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2019
Stefon Diggs was asked what he meant when he said "There's truth to all rumors."
Diggs: “I feel like there’s truth to all rumors regardless whether it is good or bad. There’s always some truth to it. I’ve heard a lot of things circulating. I can’t say what’s real and what’s not."— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 3, 2019
Minnesota brought back a haul for a disgruntled player. But at least the Bears don’t have to deal with having to cover Diggs any more. I suppose that counts as a consolation prize.